This week is full of exciting developments in the markets. This week’s note covers some of the top economic developments in the United States, Europe, China, and Japan, and also covers major earnings announcements.
1. New Employment Data
There will be multiple pieces of labor market data released in the markets this week.
- Weekly jobless claims on Thursday at 8:00 a.m ET
- Unemployment rate and average monthly earnings data on Friday at 8:30 a.m ET
Latest data from August showed a surprise rebound in labor market activity, as the economy added 162,000 new jobs and the unemployment rate remained at 4.1%.1
US weekly jobless claims also fell to a new low last week, indicating a stronger labor market.2
However, Investors should still watch for new data, especially since consumers are struggling with ongoing inflation and higher interest rates.
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2. Q3 2026 Growth Estimates
New Q3 2026 growth estimates will also be released this week on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. ET.
A recent survey from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank projects that the US economy will grow by 2.2% in Q3 2026, notably higher than previous estimates.3
This would represent a massive recovery from growth in previous quarters and could spark more optimism in the markets this week.4
This is an important metric to monitor, as investors have been very cautious about recent rate hikes, the inflationary outlook, and long-term global growth prospects.
3. Consumer Sentiment
Investors should also keep a close eye on consumer stocks, as new consumer data points will be released in the markets this week.
Below are some of the major reports to keep an eye on:
- Consumer confidence data released on Tuesday, September 29th at 10:00 a.m ET
- Personal income and consumer spending data on Wednesday, September 30th at 8:30 a.m ET
- Average hourly earnings on Friday, October 2nd at 8:30 a.m ET
According to recent data from McKinsey, consumer sentiment has remained steady relative to Q2 2026.5
Nevertheless, this data is very important to monitor, as ongoing geopolitical tensions and inflationary concerns have put pressure on US consumers. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) has still pulled back by 6% this year on broader macro concerns.
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4. Global Macro News
It’s also important to monitor key economic developments in other global markets this week, including Japan, Europe, and China.
| Date | New Economic News |
| Monday September 28th | China industrial profits data |
| Tuesday September 29th | Australia’s Central Bank will make a decision about interest rates
Japan Leading Indicators Data |
| Wednesday September 30th | China’s manufacturing and non-manufacturing PMI data will be released
Germany’s retail sales data will be released |
| Thursday October 1st | Japan will release new CPI data
The Tankan Manufacturing Index for Q3 2026 will be updated in Japan |
| Friday October 2nd | The EU will release the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices |
The OECD recently lifted global growth projections to 2.9% amid ongoing geopolitical and macro concerns.6
Be on the lookout for new inflation and rate hike data in other markets, as this could result in lower growth in the global economy this year.
5. Earnings to Watch This Week
Below are some of the top earnings releases for this week, which include dominant financial, hospitality, tech, and consumer giants.
Earnings Release Schedule
| Jefferies Group | Monday, September 28th after the market closes |
| Carnival Corporation | Tuesday September 29th before the market opens |
| Micron Technology | Wednesday, September 30th after the market closes |
| Accenture | Thursday, October 1st before the market opens |
| Nike | Thursday, October 1st after the market closes |
Earnings results from major tech companies like Micron Technology and Accenture could have a spillover impact on other tech equities.
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